Legal Definitions - judgment file

Definition: A record kept by a court clerk that contains information about judgments made in court cases. It gives official notice of existing judgment liens to interested parties. It can also refer to a schedule of pending cases or a list of cases set for trial.

• Judgment Docket: A book that a court clerk keeps for the entry or recordation of judgments.
• Court Calendar: A schedule of pending cases.
• Preferred Docket: A list of cases set for trial, arranged in order of priority.

For example, if someone wins a court case and is owed money by the other party, the judgment file will show that there is a lien on the other party's property or assets. This means that the winning party can collect the money owed to them by selling the other party's property or assets. The court calendar and preferred docket help the court keep track of pending cases and prioritize which cases should be heard first.